JD(U) backs Lalu aide Bhola Yadav for MLC seat

Though JD (U), with 119 MLAs in a house of 243, would have taken the seat under normal political circumstances, the party’s national president Sharad Yadav and former chief minister Nitish Kumar decided to concede the seat to alliance partner RJD, that has only 24 MLAs.

Bhola Yadav, who has been RJD chief Lalu Yadav’s personal assistant for over two decades now, may be elected unopposed from the seat. September 1 is the last day for filing nomination. JD (U) state president BN Singh said: “RJD is a valued ally and hence we decided to send Bhola Yadav to the upper house in the state legislature”. Bhola Yadav, on his part, said: “I have nothing to say except to thank both JD(U) and RJD MLAs”.

JD(U) national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP K C Tyagi said the RJD-JD(U) alliance has clicked and both parties have to keep working to further consolidate it.

“Nitish Kumar will obviously play a very important role and we will continue to play up the development factor than talking about clichéd social combinations,” he said.

The JD(U) has decided to field controversial Siwan leader Ajay Singh for another MLC seat that fell vacant after local leader Manoj Singh resigned before crossing over from BJP to JD (U) to unsuccessfully contest from Siwan Lok Sabha constituency.